Is the curse of Lembit Opik finally over after Nick Clegg was narrowly elected Lib Dem leader despite his endorsement?
Mr Opik, whose record of support for losers in previous contests became a hit with the bookies, said: “My man won, so the curse of Opik has at last become a blessing."
UPDATE: Mr Opik was rewarded by removal from his 'shadow' business and enterprise role on the Lib Dem front bench, and shifted by Mr Clegg to the less glamorous housing brief instead.
Montgomeryshire MP Mr Opik said: “I backed him because he can communicate beyond politics, he can build a team towards government and I think he can speak to the nation without dogma.
“His election increases our chances of getting into government because even people who haven’t been Liberal Democrats before look at Nick and think he is the kind of guy we want to see running things.”
The former Welsh Lib Dem leader declared his support for ex-leader Charles Kennedy who then quit because of his drink problem.
Lembit backed Mark Oaten to succeed him.
Oaten then had to resign when the scandal broke of his alleged affair with a rent boy.
